day trip to Seward...

 seemed a good day for a drive.  the dogs have tolerated a lot this past week with my knee being dinged up.  it started to feel better again and i was able to get through night three doing door duty at the ER entrance. i'd say it's 80% at this point.  still a bit sore but a brace and occ ice and ibuprofen seem to be keeping it in check. 

 i have also been able to slowly increase my activity. the trail conditions are not optimal at this time of the year anyway.  lots of folks on the trails yesterday so driving further out was actually better as far as being around less humans. 

 we did a quick trek around the outer trails of the dog park at U-Lake. i'd heard it was closed but that isn't true. not too many out there and it was pretty easy for me to take back trails and avoid folks. i wear the scruff and pull it up when i am any where near others....the 6 ft limit was more like 10+

 i do feel lucky to live in Alaska at this time.  i know in the more heavily populated areas of the lower 48 even any outdoor activity is having to be limited.  just gets too crowded i'm sure and i suspect it would be an if one can all can situation. 

 had a bit of a battle with an old school mate.  i know folks are stressed with this but these folks acting like social distancing restrictions are a step toward the loss of all their freedoms...the guy was posting about a dude who got fined for paddle boarding.  i know enough officers to know that the fine no doubt came after the guy was a belligerent a-hole.  it was doubtful that he was this great parent out to enjoy the day with his kids...back up was probably called in after the guy flipped out on the first person who informed him of the limitations. it's now being used as some life liberty and the pursuit of happiness crap. 

 there are protesters out there this weekend wanting the right to control their bodies and where they go...haha.  they don't want women to have that same right but that is for another day.  so since early studies are showing far more are positive and asymptomatic but able to shed the virus...we shall see.  Florida's counts are going up but they have opened the beaches.  so we shall see how that all plays out. sadly, they don't get that the more they refuse to do these requested distancing things the longer this will play out.

 it also means the more that will die as hospitals get overwhelmed with cases.  we can only really care for so many patients at a time.  that is why nurses fight for ratio's, patient safety and improved outcomes...so not surprising that they number of dead will increase the more overwhelmed a hospital is.  working ICU you watch a patient closely and react to minute changes...that becomes more difficult the more patients you have i imagine.  even with two it can be a challenge.

 these folks are freaking out because they can't get their hair done or go paddle boarding.  seems selfish and entitled but that is just me. 

 i do get that it sucks to not be working and that adds a lot of stress to many households.  i feel most sorry for those who working at minimal wage or less though.  someone tells me they have spent years getting themselves in a good place financially and then is freaking out that $2600 a month in unemployment is not sufficient.  well i guess part of me feels that perhaps they didn't really plan very well or they have been living way beyond their means.  financial folks always suggest keeping 3-6 months pay in a savings account.  i don't have that but folks should at least have 2-3 months...that could be then stretched if you have an unemployment check.  but it's my fault that this virus has taken his job and my fault that this virus exists anyway i guess.  i am lucky i have a job and his resentment for that was pretty intense.

 as a nurse it would be pretty tough to quit.  the staff in these big cities know if they just quit their co-workers would just have even more patients to take care of and even more people would die. most nurses/dr's/rt's....know this and they will stay.  it's an oath we take...like the police and fire and all that.  i guess some folks in the private sector do not get that.  we are all anxious about this.  i can't say i've met many in medicine that have a so what,  no big deal attitude about this. 

 i would like to see people getting back to work as well. it needs to be done cautiously.  too much, too fast will only create more death and more illness. there are some states with low numbers like ours and wyoming. still we need better testing capabilities and tracking of cases to get to a place to open up. i did hear Prov may start doing some elective surgeries soon. 

 Prov also got a grant that helps pay for staff that are overstaffed. so i had some pto returned because of this which i am grateful for. the competing hospital had furloughed staff. i heard it was prn staff but most of those prn folks depending on those hours and generally got them....so i am also grateful my hospital has been trying to keep everyone working. our census has been low...thankfully because we haven't had a huge influx of covid cases at this time.  our state did many of the right things and flattened our curve.

 i am grateful for this as well....especially since our Governor is not my favorite.  on this the guy seems to have listened to the right people.  i've seen many Governors, of both parties that are taking this very seriously and making good choices.  none of them want to open too quickly and cause a new influx of cases and deaths.  sadly, our potus is too stupid, narcissistic, petty and selfish to see anything but his ratings.  he stomps on his own administrations message constantly either on his daily rally/briefings or on twitter.  they have never controlled his twitter rage rants. 

 anyway, a beautiful drive and day in Seward.  the dogs and i hit the beach down Nash road and then the beach at the end of the little runway.  we headed to Lowel Point but they were doing construction that way and it was closed to anything but local traffic.

 still seeking the best way to the beach at the end of the airstrip.  i trudged across some swampy bits.  taller boots may be in order but i stayed dry in my short xtra tuffs for the day. it's a huge beach at low tide, which is great.

 this is from the drive.

 the beach off of Nash Rd is really large at low tide.  very few folks at either spot.

 Ivy and Tusker were both very sleepy on the way home and done for the day.

 the bears are out..so Campbell Airstrip Trailhead had both covid and bear warnings.  Friday i just walked a ways up the airstrip and back.  the knee was improving but i am now more able to walk.

 i crashed after getting home last night fairly early so i woke early. i may head back to bed after this...probably feed the critters first.  driving can be tiring.

 gas is fairly cheap right now.  that was the only stop i made in Seward besides the beaches, top off the gas. 

 Covi Kitty is doing great.  he goes in for his neuter and vaccines on Tuesday.  hope he does okay.  we have all fallen for this growing kitten. he is getting taller and longer. 

 at the dog park.  masked for passings.

 down time with the family

 as fishing season approaches communities up here are grappling with how to handle it.  i think we all know opening our state up to an influx from the lower 48 could be deadly.  Cordova is pondering limits on those entering their small town.  they have zero icu beds there.

 many remote villages have put in limits and restrictions on travel in and out of their villages with quarantines upon return.  there is still enough history and memory of how terrible the 1918 influenza epidemic was in those villages.  still people often more remote with the purpose of living off the grid and not being told by anyone how to live...so those folks can be tough to get through to. 

 nobody wants to get this.  if i could know it would be like the Influenza A i had a few years back i'd say bring it on....but you just don't know how your body will react. if you will be one that doesn't survives or one that survives but has chronic health issues after from it.  some survive round one only to be taken out soon after it seems they have begun to recover.  this virus has some bad twists to it. 

 Tusker on the beach at the end of the runway. 

 the pups near the end of the runway.  we saw Canadian Geese yesterday and swans.  there were 4 younger swans out at Potters, as well as a pair of full adults.  at least that is what a few of us decided. they were not the usual pure white.  there were also quite a few moose out there.  i counted 7.

 this is also the beach at the end of the runway.  there were some birders out there....as it's all marshy so attracts various migrating birds. 

 these next ones are back on the beach off of Nash Rd.

 trump and crew refuse to help the post office...he wanted to help cruise ships that are all flagged out of other nations...but the USPS?  perhaps just another attempt to prevent vote by mail?  we do it here, i love it. it comes in the mail and there are drop boxes or you can mail it.  the GOP knows that if it doesn't keep folks from voting they will lose power.  they seem to be using anything they can to prevent votes from happening.

 cruise ships are cancelling for this coming season.  that will be strange and blow financially to many small communities but most seem to understand that the risk is too high. 

 liked how this shot below turned out

 keeping the flow of alcohol going....sadly, this would all be worse if all those alcoholics were all to go through withdrawal. i'm for giving any covid patients beers or if they are ventilated alcohol drips if they are known alcoholics.

 the Denali Park road is closed...it's been having issues with landslides in one are specifically so perhaps this covid year will be a good time to attempt to find a better solution for that area

 it's always sad to look at newspapers from just a few weeks ago and see how much the death toll has advanced quickly.  catching up on a few news items..which are quickly old news in this time of covid

 Ivy enjoys her outdoor time.  they switch off through the night. i feel like one generally stays on the human watch while the other goes out side or downstairs to sleep.

 Kenai Lake, still frozen, but thawing

 not sure what i will do today to entertain.  i should do some yard work.  little by little. the front is nearly thawed.  tomorrow is trash day as well.

 i have small goals...but i think that is generally the way i live anyway.

 really liked this one of Covi Kitty

 i have my bear spray...it's that time of year

 i'm thinking some ice on the knee and a return to bed soon will be good.  for sure got my steps in yesterday and over all it went well.  probably the driving and sitting for so long was harder on the knee than the walking.  sitting is the worst it seems.  happy to see overall improvement though.

 Thursday before i worked i was able to do 3 laps around the elementary school so i felt pretty good going to work.  i kept it elevated when i could and wore the brace and things went well.

 a sign at the dog park and below items found during the thaw sit at trail head looking for owner

 happy puppies at the beach.  wish i could head down to Homer for a few days. perhaps over my Birthday i will be able to.  fingers crossed.

grateful for A.  a less dense population and the ability to get out side B.  beaches...so beautiful  C. my fur family....and the joy they bring to my days